The Red Cross marks more than 2,000 lives saved, nearly 3 million free smoke alarms installed through Home Fire Campaign

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23, 2025 — This Community Risk Reduction Week (January 20-26), the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region encourages everyone to follow important steps to prevent home fires. Over the past decade, The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has saved more than 2,000 lives, installed nearly 3 million smoke alarms, made over 1.2 million households safer and served over 3.1 million people through in-home visits.

"Since launching the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, we’ve helped save more than 2,000 lives across the country, and 32 lives regionally, by installing free smoke alarms and helping families create escape plans,” said Ana Romero, Regional Preparedness Manager. “This Community Risk Reduction Week, help protect your family by testing your smoke alarms and practicing your two-minute escape plan with everyone in your household.” 

As the Red Cross has adapted our mission over the years to meet the needs of communities and to help prevent deaths and injuries from home fires, our work remains critically important as home fires remain the most frequent disaster nationwide. This critical work is made possible through our volunteers and partners, who have helped us to install more than 2.6 million free smoke alarms and make more than 1 million households safer nationwide.

Through targeted outreach, we’re working with community partners to connect with families and educate kids about home fire safety. Home fires claim seven lives every day in the U.S., but having working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half. Sound the Alarm events are part of our national Home Fire Campaign, which has saved at least 2,266 lives and installed more than 2.6 million free smoke alarms across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires. 

SOUND THE ALARM Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year. If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/NCCR for more information.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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